In what may prove to be a death sentence for Orlando’s struggling Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (DPAC), Orange County Mayor, Teresa Jacobs issued a scathing indictment of the project’s viability, transparency and funding arrangements.
Citing several inconsistencies in a letter on Thursday to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Jacobs detailed criticism pointed out instances where DPAC’s president, Kathy Ramsberger “incorrectly informed” the public and media into believing that DPAC “did not have to raise $25 million for the operating endowment” before construction commenced and that Ramsberger presented “dubious and overly optimistic” funding scenarios.
Further, in Mayor Jacobs’ letter to Mayor Dyer, were concerns that the project as it is, currently poses “too many risks for the County, the City and our citizens.”
See Letter and Attachments Here.
Of great concern is the City of Orlando’s inability to demonstrate that it can provide $31 million to help fund the project. Jacobs says the City has, “failed to identify” where that $31 million would come from.
Recently, the newly-elected Jacobs was approached by DPAC for assistance, when the Center asked the County for a bridge loan to enable the project’s groundbreaking. Citing County finances and the state of the local economy, Jacobs told the Center “no”.
The project is now jeopardized by accusations of cronyism and sweetheart deals for the various vendors, including plans “to pay for half of a BBC Sr. Vice President’s salary, his car allowance of $1,025.00/month, plus gas & oil expenses, his lunches with the project team, and his health insurance at $1,333/month.”
In her wisdom, Jacobs has called for a serious discussion with Mayor Dyer and the DPAC board of directors, seeking explanations as to why the Center awarded contracts, without properly reviewing lower bids that had been submitted.
“At the end of the day, the people who are ultimately accountable to our taxpayers are the two Mayors and the County Comptroller who have been entrusted by our citizens to protect their hard-earned tax dollars”, Jacobs wrote. “I trust you agree that, before we commit significant resources to such an endeavor, there must be a full and transparent review.”
